According to developers who signed up to the Accelerator, they’re finding themselves with a major advantage over other local app-makers in being shown how to incorporate Apple’s latest tech. And it’s working out pretty well for Apple, too!

“The experience at the App Accelerator has been really good; Apple really wants Indian developers to be part of the global players,” Alvin Varghese, founder of Swift India Developer Community, an unaffiliated group that focuses on building a vibrant community of Apple’s Swift developers, told Gadgets 360. “We are glad that Apple is doing this.”

Apple’s App Accelerator is free to use, and can take 500 developers a week. Sessions last between 2-4 hours, and include a focus on integrating Apple’s newest APIs, such as SiriKit. Previously, use of this newer technology would reportedly take a couple of years to start making it into Indian apps.

Local audiences

The other interesting aspect of the article (which can be read here) is that developers mention that Apple is encouraging them to focus on making apps to appeal to local audiences.

“What will work in the US or elsewhere may not work here,” one developer describes Apple’s message as. “Don’t copy any app. Try to think of your own use case and your users’ needs. Study other apps but be original.”

When Apple VP Phil Schiller first opened the Accelerator, he said it was designed to, “help the local market create apps for customers in India that better meet the needs of our growing customer base here.”

There is good reason for this: Apple is desperate to increase its market penetration in India. In a country with a population of more than 1.311 billion and a fast-growing smartphone market, Apple currently holds just 3 percent of it.

Coming up with iOS exclusive apps that will sell the iPhone to local customers is one way of growing Apple’s brand. Apple is also keen to show that it is making a positive impact on jobs in India.